UPA lacks will to recover black money stashed abroad: BJP

Patna, Feb 5 (PTI) The BJP today accused the Congress-ledUPA government of "lacking will" to recover the black moneystashed in foreign banks.

"Unlike countries like Philippines and Peru which hadsuccessfully pursued recovery of their black money stashedabroad, our government lacked the will to do so," BJPpresident Nitin Gadkari said at a party function here.

Contrary to its claim to have pursued the black moneyissue with foreign countries, the UPA government has made noconcrete efforts to bring back about Rs 22.50 lakh crores ofill-gotten national wealth stashed abroad, he alleged.

He also criticised the government for opposing to revealthe names of Indians who have stashed ill-gotten wealthin foreign banks, in spite of the prodding by the supremecourt and demands being made from several quarters.

The BJP leader said AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhihad said the black money should be brought back but "whatprevents him to ask the Centre to take necessary steps in thisregard?"

"Mere statements on the black money issue will not do...

Rahul should take up the matter with the government," he said.

Blaming the UPA for the price rise, Gadkari said thecountry is passing through a "difficult" time due to itsfaulty policies.

"The country is beset with a host of problems likeinflation and price rise, even as the UPA government headed byan economist prime minister is clueless as to how to deal withthese issues affecting the common man," he said.

Gadkari said the country has always faced the brunt ofprice rise whenever Congress has been in power at the Centreand so was the case with corruption.